Signing up for landline service at new house

IM

I'm about to move house, and am trying to figure out the best approach to telephony at the new place.

We currently have Virgin for TV, landline and broadband. The new place has Virgin in the street, but no connection to the property. In any case, I want to get away from being restricted to Virgin (I'm not very good at remembering to periodically threaten to leave, in order to get a temporary discount…).

I am waiting on confirmation of who the current landline provider is at the new place, but I'd assume it's BT.

If I just call BT (or whoever the line supplier is) to take on the line, what if anything will I be charged. Also, what am I committing to, should I want to go to another line supplier once I've moved in?

I did try calling TalkTalk (as I was thinking of going for their calls/broadband deal), but the script-reader I spoke to was useless.

He did say they were starting to provide lines as well as calls from March 16th, but I couldn't get out of him whether that was when they were taking orders, or when they would actually do the connections.

If it was the former, it might be OK, given that we're probably moving on the 13th. A weekend without a phone is OK, but if it was another couple of weeks while the order was processed, that would be no good.

TalkTalk

Hello there IM,

TalkTalk do not currently offer new provides - while this is under review at the moment I have not been given a timescale or cost for this. I'll see what else I can find out as you have been given a date.

If the line is active then we are able to provide a service on that line, but if the current owners have requested that the service is cancelled TalkTalk would not currently be able to re-activate the service.

Cheers
EmmaL x

utilitybroker

IM wrote: »

If I just call BT (or whoever the line supplier is) to take on the line, what if anything will I be charged. Also, what am I committing to, should I want to go to another line supplier once I've moved in?

Your normally be charged a connection charge which varies depending on your supplier. If however the wiring between the exchange and your new abode is still fully intact ,together with a master socket,then the connection is normally free.

Most suppliers of Home Phone Line Rental have a minimum term of 12 to 18 months.Post Office Homephone dont have a minimum term at present.

IM

utilitybroker wrote: »

Your normally be charged a connection charge which varies depending on your supplier. If however the wiring between the exchange and your new abode is still fully intact ,together with a master socket,then the connection is normally free.

Most suppliers of Home Phone Line Rental have a minimum term of 12 to 18 months.Post Office Homephone dont have a minimum term at present.

So if I go with the Post Office, I'd be able to move to the supplier of my choosing for calls and access, once I've got the move out of the way - and if I go with BT or another line supplier I'm limited to moving my calls elsewhere (still paying them for the line) for the duration of the 12/18 months?

Sounds OK to me. Should clarify what is currently there, and what the current owner is doing and when, by the end of the week.

I suspect that I may go for Sky's "free" broadband and calls, as I'm getting their TV package - with BT/AN Other for the line.

utilitybroker

IM wrote: »

I suspect that I may go for Sky's "free" broadband and calls, as I'm getting their TV package - with BT/AN Other for the line.

If you wanted Sky Talk and Broadband you can only have your line rental with BT,or Sky. Be aware if you move your calls to Sky and keep your line rental with BT you will not be able to use the 1280 BT override facility to place selected calls via BT,as the system Sky uses does not allow it. Also if you ever give up Sky TV you cant have Sky Talk.

lockview

I read this thread as I'm also moving home next week and have been looking at what would be the best option for me. My new place has a cancelled BT line. I was interested in the Talk Talk bundle offer but on calling them (before reading this thread) was told that I would have to activate the BT line and then move to Talk Talk which they said BT would charge a cancellation fee of £100's so not worth doing.

Could I go with Post Office Home Phone and move to Talk Talk from there, thereby not incurring any cancellation charges as PO doesn't have a minimum contract?

Any other suggestions on packages gratefully received! I currently have Sky and am not in a cable or Virgin area and looking to get landline, broadband, and basic Sky channels at new place.

Thanks
Tim

TalkTalk

Hi Lockview,

TalkTalk do have changes coming in on the activation of new lines but I cant confirm any details just yet - it really depends how desperate you are to get the line up and running.

If this is something you need to do as a priority then the Post Office can do the set up now for you and you would then be able to move to TalkTalk. If you're in no rush it could be worth holding on for a little while. I'm waiting on an official statement on this.

Cheers
EmmaL x

lockview

TalkTalk_Company_Representative wrote: »

If you're in no rush it could be worth holding on for a little while.

Thanks EmmaL, do you think there will be something on this within the next week?

jhp

lockview wrote: »

I read this thread as I'm also moving home next week and have been looking at what would be the best option for me. My new place has a cancelled BT line. I was interested in the Talk Talk bundle offer but on calling them (before reading this thread) was told that I would have to activate the BT line and then move to Talk Talk which they said BT would charge a cancellation fee of £100's so not worth doing.

Could I go with Post Office Home Phone and move to Talk Talk from there, thereby not incurring any cancellation charges as PO doesn't have a minimum contract?

Any other suggestions on packages gratefully received! I currently have Sky and am not in a cable or Virgin area and looking to get landline, broadband, and basic Sky channels at new place.

Thanks
Tim

You can go to any landline supplier you like to reactivate the landline(apart from TT who still dont offer this facilty to new customers),bear in mind their could be a connection charge if all the wiring/sockets are not in situ.

So yes you could go to the PO and move to Talk Talk.The PO charge 3 months rental up front. Or you could go direct to Sky for landline, broadband,& calls and get £30 M&S vouchers,or possibly more via a cashback site.

http://www.sky.com/portal/site/skycom/skyproducts/getall3/combi1

OldGreyFox

TalkTalk_Company_Representative wrote: »

TalkTalk do have changes coming in on the activation of new lines but I cant confirm any details just yet

:rotfl: Britains, second largest (non cable) phone company still cant offer a full phone service.

jhp

OldGreyFox wrote: »

:rotfl: Britains, second largest (non cable) phone company still cant offer a full phone service.

They Carphone Group owners of TT have more important things on their mine.

See: http://www.mobiletoday.co.uk/Retailer_toughens_up_staff_bonus_criteria.html